PHOTO BY LAURA PRINSEN
Tammy Luksich
Sports editor
WTAMU baseball could not seem to find its rhythm as they battled Southwestern Oklahoma on April 10-11 at the Dilla Villa.
The Buffs finished the weekend 1-3, losing games one and two by scores of 8-1 and 16-2, and winning game three, 9-8. Game four of the series was cancelled due to rainy conditions. The Buffs improve to 19-26 overall record, (12-23 LSC).
During game one of the series, Savage Storm’s defense seemed to be too much for WT to handle. Reese Dodd, pitcher for Savage Storm, allowed just one run on three hits to finish the game.
Defensively, the Buffs struggled as PJ Granado, junior pitcher (3-4), picked up the loss on the mound. Granado gave up five runs on five hits in three innings.
“We just couldn’t put anything together,” Granado said. “There wasn’t any intensity on the field or in the dugout.”
In the second game, the Buffs continued to struggle on both sides of the plate.
In the bottom of the second, Coty Wilson, senior infielder, hit an RBI double to score teammate, Rob Mann, junior outfielder.
Southwestern answered the next inning with 10 runs on nine hits. Savage Storm’s Tyler Johnson smashed a shot to center field with a three-run homer to extend Southwestern’s lead 13-1.
The Buffs second run came from Will McLaughlin, senior infielder, in the bottom of the fourth, but it was not enough to prevent
Southwestern from capping the 16-2 victory.
Zach Walker, freshman pitcher (1-2), took the loss for the Buffs giving up eight runs on seven hits in two innings.
“Defense has been an issue for us all year,” Matt Vanderburg, head coach. said. “We’ve made some errors in crucial situations, but we’re working on adjustments to get the job done.”
Game three of the series encountered some weather problems as a storm swept through Amarillo, forcing the officials to delay the game for 90 minutes.
“Saturday was a cold and windy day, but the team played well,” Vanderburg said.
Despite weather conditions, the Buffs came out fighting. After trading runs throughout the first five innings, the Savage Storm tied the game in the top of the sixth, 8-8.
A crucial hit to right center from Christian Figueroa, senior infielder, that led to scoring teammate Tyson Hickman, junior outfielder, and sealed the 9-8 win for the Buffs.
Adam Kramer, senior pitcher (2-4), pocketed the win for the Buffs, giving up no runs or hits in a third of an inning.
“It seems like this time of year spring fever catches on and it’s hard to keep the team mentally focused,” Vanderburg said.
We just have to talk to them about how important every game is, and how to overcome everything to get the win.”
The Buffs will head back to the diamond for more action on April 17-18 in Talequah, Okla. WT will take on Northeastern Oklahoma in a pair of double-headers.
“Northeastern is a big series and we need to go there and take all four games,” Vanderburg said. “If we play the way we did Saturday we shouldn’t have a problem with that.”